SPRINGFIELD — Danny Ramirez was still waiting to get back into his condominium on Worthington Street on Saturday afternoon in the aftermath of a downtown gas explosion Friday that was powerful enough to fling him across a room.

Ramirez was among people seeking information at a triage center at the Springfield State Office Building at 436 Dwight St., on Saturday, hoping to get back into his condominium less than a block from the blast site.

Ramirez, of the McIntosh Condominiums at 385 Worthington St., had just gotten home from work Friday when he was told by an officer that there was a gas leak in the area and to go inside his own building.

"I walked into the apartment, closed the door and boom," Ramirez said. "It flew me from my doorway to the living room. I landed on my neck, legs over my couch. Everything came off my walls."

The nearby strip club, Scores, was leveled by the gas explosion and other buildings were seriously damaged. Officials said 21 people sustained injuries in the blast, including 11 firefighters and two police officers.

Ramirez said he was uninjured, but he looked outside and saw people yelling and running, and the street littered with bricks and glass.

Now, he and some neighbors from his building were conferring with volunteers at the triage center to see if they could get back into their condominiums. They were unable to return, as of Saturday night, and planned to check again on Sunday.

The residents were allowed to return for a few minutes on Saturday to get some basic belongings.

Ramirez said he stayed with a brother on Friday night and was staying at a nearby hotel on Saturday night.

Residents of the McIntosh building said they do not know when they can return to their homes, and have many questions including the extent of any damage, the extent of their insurance coverage, and any reimbursements available. Less than 10 people sought help the first day.

Margarita Robinson and four family members, also seeking help at the triage center, said they were scared and crying after being displaced Friday night.

“We did a lot of crying,” Robinson said. “It’s very hard, really.”

The family was planning to spend Saturday night at a nearby hotel.

Geraldine McCafferty, the city's director of housing, said the triage center was open from 2 until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and then on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Representatives of the American Red Cross and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and volunteers were staffing the triage center, advising residents about help that's available and trying to assist them with information about when they might be allowed to return to their apartments.

McCafferty said displaced residents voiced frustration.

"People are trying to find out how to get into their buildings," she said.

The city's Housing Office has partnerships with many agencies that can help people with temporary lodging, food and other services, if needed, McCafferty said. On Friday night, an emergency shelter was established at Central High School, but no one spent the night there. That center was not expected to reopen as a shelter unless a need was determined, McCafferty said.

John Ferreira, also of 385 Worthington St., said he was able to get into his building with an escort to retrieve medicine, diapers for his daughter, two shirts, a passport and cash. Ferreira had worked until 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and he walked to a nearby hotel to sleep after learning no one was being allowed back inside his building.

He said he awoke early, stressed, and had trouble getting information about the condition of his building and when he might return."Not knowing is just the worst," Ferreira said. "It's a scary feeling."